British expert says cake in office like secondhand smoke

“If nobody brought in cakes into the office, I would not eat cakes in the day, but because people do bring cakes in, I eat them.”

Jebb expressed frustration with the British government delaying a television ban on junk food advertising, which led to “a complete market failure.” She urged doctors to be more willing to broach the subject of people’s weight and offer dieting advice, saying it was harmful for the United Kingdom’s health. 

The chair went on to say it was not enough to rely on personal willpower to avoid overeating in a society where people are being plied with food. She added it was similar to people going into a smoky pub. 

While saying the two issues were not identical, she said passive smoking inflicted harm on others “and exactly the same is true of food.”

“With smoking, after a very long time, we have got to a place where we understand that individuals have to make some effort, but that we can make their efforts more successful by having a supportive environment,” she said. 

“But we still don’t feel like that about food.”

Two-thirds of adults in the United Kingdom are overweight, including one-quarter who are obese, a proportion which has doubled in the past three decades. One-fifth of children are overweight by the time they start school, with most people too heavy by 25. 

Many prime ministers have gone back on anti-obesity measures because of the challenges of reconciling the need to improve people’s health and reduce pressure on the National Health Service with Conservative hostility to nanny state measures. 

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson derided these polices, but he announced a crackdown on obesity in 2020 after accepting being overweight contributed to his near-death experience with COVID-19. He set out plans to ban junk food advertising on television before 9 p.m. and end buy one get one free (BOGOF) deals on unhealthy products. 

British Health Secretary Steve Barclay pushed the advertising ban off in December, extending the implementation date until 2025. 

Barclay, who had been resistant to bans and wanted more ways to promote healthy living, must now consider whether to press ahead with the BOGOF ban due to take effect in October. Labour said it should not go ahead during the cost of living crisis. 

Jebb said the advertising of junk food was undermining people’s free will and insisted restrictions were not about the nanny state. 

“Advertising means that the businesses with the most money have the biggest influence on people’s behaviour,” she said. 

The comments come after it was uncovered in November Governor General Mary Simon and travelling companions dined on steak, cake, and Chardonnay on a junket to Dubai. 

READ MORE: Gov.-Gen. had steak, cake, and Chardonnay on Dubai flight

“Ordering enough meals of each option so that passengers have a choice is a challenging art,” said Global Affairs Canada. 

Staff said Simon and 45 friends ate typical airline food. Actual menus for meals costing $218 per plate featured French crepes, beef wellington, and red velvet cake with Chantilly cream.